لا وَمِسكُ اللَمى وَوَردُ الخُدودِ

ما نَهارُ اللّقا كَلَيلِ الصُدودِ

Not the musk of cheeks, nor roses of the face,

Are like a meeting's day, not like the night of parting.

لا وَلا الزَهرُ مِثلُ دُرِّ الثَنايا

لا وَلا السَمرُ مِثلُ بانِ القُدودِ

No flowers are like the pearls of the mouth,

No Doe is like the moon of assemblies.

لا وَلا البَدرُ مِثلُ صُبحِ المُحيّا

لا وَلا النَدُّ مِثلُ خَتمِ النُهودِ

No full moon is like the morning of life,

No gift is like the seal of missives.

إِن يَكُن ذا فَقَد عَلِقتُ غَزالاً

عَلِقَت عَينُهُ بِصَيدِ الأُسودِ

If it be thus, I have hung my gazelle,

His eyes caught by hunting the lions.

غُصنُ بانٍ وَزَهرُ رَوضِ جَمالٍ

ريمُ إِنسٍ وَبَدرُ أُفقِ سُعودِ

A ban branch and a meadow's flower,

A wild cow, a human moon, a horizon's full moon.